TDU Chapter 74: Lawyer Zhang's Decision

Chapter 74 Lawyer Zhang's Decision

"Terrestrial Dog, what about the remaining rules?" Qi Xia asked. "What exactly is this game about?"

"Please follow me, and I’ll explain as we walk," Terrestrial Dog replied, leading everyone down one of the hotel’s corridors. He began, "This hotel has two parallel corridors, each one an exact replica of the other. The two teams will occupy one corridor each. Your task is to complete the objectives in your corridor before the opposing team does. The first team to succeed will be declared the winner."

With that, he opened the first door in the corridor, which bore the label {Correspondent}. 

"This is the correspondent’s room," Terrestrial Dog explained. "Once the game begins, the two {Correspondent} can only remain in their respective rooms and are not allowed to leave. Your task is to deliver an encapsulated letter containing a secret code."

The room was sparse, with little more than a plain table at its center. Upon the table lay four objects, each clearly discernible: a letter, an iron box, a golden key, and a golden lock.

Lin Qin pondered for a moment before asking, "Since we can’t leave this room, how are we supposed to deliver the {letter}?"

"Very simple: give the letter to the {Infiltrator}," Terrestrial Dog replied. "Now, please follow me."

He led everyone out of the room and back into the corridor.

"The corridor is the designated activity area for all {Infiltrators}. You will move about within your respective corridors to handle the delivery of the letter."

"The {Infiltrators} are delivering the letter?!" The participants were all momentarily taken aback.

"Don’t any of you have a penchant for spy movies?" Terrestrial Dog continued with a smile. "Sometimes, even when you're aware the messenger is an {Infiltrator}, there are moments where you're left with no choice but to trust them to deliver the message."

His words hung in the air, leaving the group thoughtful but silent. Most of the participants were relatively young and unfamiliar with the intricacies of spy thrillers.

Breaking the silence, Lin Qin pointed toward a peculiar machine situated along the corridor. "What’s that?"

The device resembled a small heater, with a narrow, palm-sized opening at the top.

"This is a pulverizer," Terrestrial Dog explained. "The {Infiltrator} can dispose of anything they like in the pulverizer, including the letter, the key, or the lock. However, due to size constraints, the {iron box} cannot be destroyed."

"So we can have the {Infiltrator} deliver anything?" Lin Qin asked. "Even just a key?"

"Exactly! As long as you’re willing, you can have the {Infiltrator} make multiple trips back and forth in the corridor."

The group sensed that this game was far from simple, and the situations ahead were completely unpredictable.

"I’ll stop explaining the first half of the rules here," Terrestrial Dog said with a smile. "Please have the {Correspondent} return to their respective rooms; the next rules won’t involve you anymore."

Lin Qin exchanged a glance with Qi Xia before slowly walking toward her room.

The blonde member of the opposing team also made his way down the other corridor and entered his room.

Qi Xia glanced at the pulverizer in the corridor, a sinking feeling creeping over him. The {Infiltrator} was shaping up to be the most volatile element in the game, capable of turning everything on its head.

"Both {Infiltrator}, no matter what you're handed, it must be delivered within three minutes," he instructed, gesturing toward the large digital clock mounted on the wall. The clock was set to a menacing three-minute countdown. "Unless, of course, you've chosen to destroy it instead." His finger now pointed toward the pulverizer.

"And remember," Terrestrial Dog continued, "if that countdown hits zero and the item hasn’t been processed—whether delivered or destroyed—there will be  consequences."

Ole Lu and the girl exchanged glances, taken aback. "Wasn’t it said that our identities are the safest?"

"Of course, as long as you deliver or destroy the item, you’ll be safe," Terrestrial Dog grinned. "This rule is in place to prevent anyone from stalling."

Noticing the silence that had overtaken the group, Terrestrial Dog broke it with a casual, "Please have the {Infiltrator} stay behind; the rest of you, follow me."

Ole Lu and the girl remained behind as instructed, while Terrestrial Dog led the others further down the dimly lit corridor.

Now, only the {Recipient} and {Hostage} were left to fulfill their roles on both sides.

At the far end of the corridor stood another door, labeled {Recipient}. Terrestrial Dog approached it and, with a firm push, opened it to reveal another sparsely furnished room. Inside, a table stood solitary, bearing only two objects—a silver key and a matching silver lock. In the corner, an imposing electronic device stood—its appearance reminiscent of an oversized refrigerator.

"This is the {Recipient}'s designated area," Terrestrial Dog began. "You will not be permitted to communicate with anyone aside from the {Infiltrator}."

With that, he approached the large electronic device in the corner, gesturing toward it as he explained, "This is where the {Hostage} will be held. Once the game commences, they will be locked inside."

Qi Xia stepped forward, studying the peculiar device closely. An electronic display on the cabinet’s door flashed the word {Unlocked}.

Peering inside, he observed that the walls were crafted from metal, perforated with numerous small holes. The design struck a chord with him—a familiarity…

"This is my custom-built large microwave," Terrestrial Dog announced with a disturbingly calm smile. "In half an hour, if the door isn’t opened, the person inside will be... cooked."

The bald man beside him, assigned as the {Hostage} for the opposing team, recoiled in horror. "A microwave?! What the hell?!" he shouted, stepping back in disbelief. "There's no way lǎozi is getting in there!"

"Hey!" The blonde man beside him seized his arm with a firm grip, silencing him with a glare. "Stop yip-yapping! If you hesitate here, A'Mu will have your head when he comes out."

At those words, the bald man visibly flinched. "But—But I can’t just stay inside a microwave…" 

"Relax, how can these people be a match for A’Mu?" the blonde reassured him, gripping his shoulder. "Trust in his abilities."

After a long pause, the bald man finally nodded, albeit reluctantly.

Terrestrial Dog, unfazed by the man’s apprehension, continued his explanation. "As for the {Recipient}, your rules mirror those of the {Correspondent}. The key difference," he emphasized, "is that upon successfully receiving the letter, you must immediately decipher the code within. This code is your only means to unlock the microwave and free your teammate. The first team to successfully rescue their {Hostage} will claim victory."

Noticing Zhang Chenze's silence, Qi Xia calmly inquired, "Do you believe in me?"

Zhang Chenze contemplated his question for a moment before responding, "Qi Xia, I believe in you, but this game is riddled with uncertainties. In this room, you cannot communicate with anyone else or discuss strategies. Just because I believe in you doesn’t ensure that you can successfully rescue me."

"That's…" Qi Xia found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

Terrestrial Dog, observing the intensity of their conversation, interjected with a grin, "Even now, if you wish to swap identities, I won’t stand in your way."

Taken aback by his remark, Qi Xia withdrew his {Recipient} card and scrutinized it thoughtfully. Considering that Zhang Chenze had only recently escaped from the confines of the fish tank, followed by the daunting prospect of being trapped in the microwave, he couldn't shake the feeling that it might be too cruel a fate for her to endure.

"Lawyer Zhang, logically, I should exchange with you…" Qi Xia hesitated, "Making you the hostage twice in a row seems rather…"

"It’s fine," Zhang Chenze interjected. "Qi Xia, from the standpoint of maximizing our advantages, you should hold the {Recipient} card. Being at the center of the game will enable you to exert greater control over the situation. Compared to anyone else, I feel more at ease entrusting you with unlocking the door."

"Don’t you think that would be overly harsh on you?" Qi Xia countered.

"Harsh?" Zhang Chenze forced a smile. "If it’s the right course of action, it should be undertaken without hesitation. Besides, my clothes are still wet, so I might as well go in to dry off."